If you’ve shipped freight in the U.S., you’ve likely faced a choice that stumps logistics teams often: Full Truckload (FTL) or Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)? On the surface, it’s basic, FTL for loads that fill most of a truck, LTL for smaller shipments that share space. But your pick affects shipping costs, transit speed, customer happiness and the flow of your supply chain.

What is Full Truckload (FTL)?

FTL shipping reserves the whole truck for your cargo alone. Even if your load leaves some space empty, no other freight gets loaded on, which skips consolidation stops, keeps handling light and hurries the delivery from start to end. When FTL makes sense: You’re shipping a lot (typically 12–26 pallets). You need guaranteed delivery windows. Your shipment is breakable, valuable or shouldn't get touched more than once. You prefer to eliminate delays caused by other shipments.

Example: Say a distributor is sending 22 pallets of bottled water to a Midwest facility, they’d select FTL. With the truck dedicated solely to their load, it takes a direct path and cuts the odds of damage from shifting around.

What is Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)?

LTL shipping mixes your freight with loads from other shippers in one trailer, so you’re only charged for the space your items take up. When LTL makes sense: You’re shipping 1-6 pallets. You’re working with a tighter budget. The shipment isn't time-critical. You are growing, but not quite on the level where FTL is going to be worth it.

Example: A business selling eCommerce three pallets of home furnishings to a few retailers can take the most advantage of LTL without giving up too much on delivery consistency. Factor FTL (Full Truckload) LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Cost Higher upfront, but cost-effective for large shipments Lower, only pay for the space you need. Transit Time Direct, generally quicker slightly longer, multiple stops handling Minimal More handling at hubs Best For12–26 pallets1–6 pallets Risk of Damage Lower Slightly higher.

How to Choose What's Best for Your Company?

Following are four actual scenarios I ask customers when we're weighing FTL and LTL:

How much are you really shipping?

When your freight fills up half the trailer or more, FTL may already cost less than stacking a bunch of LTL shipments.

What's your delivery deadline?

FTL is done directly. If you have a deadline, it's the risk-free way to go. If you can wait an extra day or two of shipping, LTL will be cheaper.

How much is your budget?

LTL is cheap on lightweight payloads, but if you're shipping frequently, those pennies will add up quickly compared to keeping whole trucks reserved.

What are you shipping?

Sensitive or high-value items? Use FTL. Durable, run-of-the-mill stuff? LTL is fine.

Real-World Pro Tips

Mix it up: Both are widely utilized by most companies. Maybe FTL on big, monthly hauls, LTL for smaller in-transit orders.

Team with a 3PL: A solid logistics partner can study your shipping patterns and tap their carrier network to score you better deals.

Book in advance: Planning your shipments early lets you grab lower rates, especially for FTL runs in today’s tight market. Last Words the decision between FTL and LTL boils down to your load details, your time constraints, and your spending limits.

The bright side? You don’t need to crack this puzzle on your own. Partnering with a 3PL like The Freight Logistics gives you a crew of experts who know the freight game, find you money-saving rates, and keep your deliveries on track, every time. This lets you focus on growing your business without the shipping headaches.